PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR PSYCHOLOGY

Round Table Discussion

PsySSA CONGRESS

15 SEPTEMBER 2006

PROF E M Q MOKHUANE

VISION

The Professional Board envisaged a South Africa where the profession of psychology is quality driven, relevant and accessible to all, in order to contribute to the healing, development and wellbeing of the Nation.

MISSION

The Board strives to provide protection for the public and guidance of the profession, through formulating and regulating standards for professional education, training and practice.

This the Board achieves through transparency, integrity and consultation, while being cognisant of both our unique South African context and the international perspective.

MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS

The Board meets with stakeholders in the different provinces in order to address and clarify issues pertaining to the profession of psychology and to hear how the work of the Board was perceived by its stakeholders. Meetings were held in Port Elizabeth and Polokwane. The next meeting is scheduled for 20 September 2006 in Mpumalanga.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARDQUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD

Questions regarding the business of the Board or for Questions regarding the business of the Board or for clarification will be taken after the presentation.clarification will be taken after the presentation.

MANDATE OF THE HPCSA AND THE BOARDS CONTROL OVER TRAINING

The Board in terms of section 16 of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974) has the mandate to set education and training standards for psychology for registration purposes.

The Professional Board for Psychology is one of 12 Professional Boards, which functions under the auspices of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The HPCSA is a statutory body established by Government in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974). The Professional Boards are autonomous to a great extent. Any decision of a Board to a matter falling entirely within its mandate shall not be subject to ratification by the HPCSA, and the HPCSA shall, for this purpose determine whether a matter falls entirely within the ambit of a Professional Board. The HPCSA does not receive any subsidies from Government and is funded entirely by the health care professions it represents.

The primary mandate of the HPCSA and the Professional Boards is to –

a. protect the public and to guide the profession;b. keep registers for the different professions;c. assist in the promotion of health of the population of South

Africa;d. advise the Minister on any matter that relates to any profession

falling within the ambit of the Board;e. maintains and enhances the dignity of the professions and the

integrity of the persons practising the professions. In this regard the Board has developed a Code of Professional

Conduct for the Professions of Psychology.

REGISTRATION

In terms of section 17 of the Health Professions Act, registration with the HPCSA is a prerequisite for practising. The scope of the profession of psychology is defined in section 37 of the Act. It is a criminal offence if unregistered persons are involved in any of the acts specified in section 37 of the Act.

ANNUAL FEES

As an autonomous body the HPCSA receives no grants or subsidies from government or any other source.  It is totally funded by the fees it receives from registered persons representing the professions under its jurisdiction.  Each Professional Board, however, administers its own budget in a transparent manner from the funds allocated by the HPCSA, based on fees paid by various professions to Council.  Such fees are not necessarily uniform but depended on the actual cost of running the Board; on the levy paid by the Professional Boards to Council towards a stabilisation fund from which Council could allocate money in contingency circumstances, and on the cost of the running of the HPCSA.

The annual fees paid by health care professionals are used to cover the costs of –

a. administering the Professional Board under the jurisdiction of Council as well as the HPCSA and its structures;

b. administering the professions registered with the HPCSA in terms of registration, maintaining of standards of education and training, as well as the maintaining of fair standards of

professional practice.

Voluntary erasure, in terms of Section 19(1) (c), is possible if a person does not intend practicing his/her profession in South Africa for a given period. Applications for voluntary erasure must reach the HPCSA before 31 March of the year preceding the registration year. (For example applications for 2007 have to reach the HPCSA before 31 March 2007).

Annual fees are payable on 1 April. It is the responsibility of every registered practitioner to ensure that his/her annual fee is paid by 1 April of each year.

Registered health practitioners who have not paid their annual fees by 1 April of a particular year, will be erased from the register by 1 August of the same year in terms of section 19(1)(d) of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act 56 of 1974). A person may not practice his/her profession in South Africa until such time as his/her name has been restored to the register.

Practitioners whose names are erased from the register will be required to pay a penalty fee.

The restoration fee payable by a practitioner on application for the restoration of his/her name to the relevant register is as follows:

a. Within a period of six months after the erasure date, shall be equivalent to two times the applicable annual fee, plus the outstanding fees.

b. After a period of six months, but within 12 months of the erasure date, shall be equivalent to four times the applicable annual fee, plus the outstanding fees.

c. After a period of more than 12 months after the erasure date, shall be equivalent to five times the applicable annual fee, plus the outstanding annual fees.

It should however, be noted that the HPCSA may impose additional conditions that persons whose names have been off the register have to comply with, e.g. if a practitioner's name has been off the register for more than 2 years the person may be requested to pass the National Examination of the Board prior to the restoration of his/her name to the register.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTORATION OF NAMES

The Board recommended the following requirements for restoration of names to Council-

1. RESTORATION OF NAMES AFTER ERASURE IN TERMS OF SECTIONS 19(1)(c) (at own request) AND 19(1)(d) (failure to pay annual fee) OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1974 (ACT 56 OF 1974)

a. Restoration within a period not exceeding three years

Restoration without any conditions other than submission of the prescribed application form and payment of the relevant

fees

b. Restoration after a period of three years or more

i. Applicants who did not practice their profession during the period of erasure had to comply with one of the following conditions:

* Successful completion of a stipulated period of supervised practice approved by the Board; or

* Compliance with an assessment which confirmed that the practitioner was fit

and able to practice the profession.

ii. Applicants who were registered with a recognised foreign regulatory body during the period of erasure were required to submit to the Board the following information prior to the restoration of their names:

* Proof of such registration and compliance with CPD requirements of the foreign regulatory body.

* A Certificate of Status issued by the foreign regulatory authority.

The Senior Manager: CPD, Registrations and Records be authorised to approve the applications for restoration of names of applicants on receipt of proof that they obtained at least 67% of the required CEU’s during that period and provided they complied with all the other requirements for restoration; a report on such restorations had to be submitted to the Board. In order to ensure compliance with CPD, practitioners could be required to submit proof of further CEU’s obtained within 3 months of date of restoration.

2. RESTORATION OF NAMES AFTER ERASURE IN TERMS OF SECTION 42 (disciplinary inquiry) OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1974 (ACT 56 OF 1974)

Applications for restoration of names had to be submitted to the Board for consideration and applicants had to satisfy the test for restoration of their names, i.e. evidence of having completely reformed/rehabilitated themselves. The matter will be considered by Council in November 2006.

The Board resolved that interim, persons whose names have been removed from the register for more than 3 years will be required to pass the National Examination of the Board.

‘NO CASH ON PREMISES’ POLICY 

In its endeavour to ensure safety for its clients and employees, The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), has resolved to implement ‘no cash on premises’ policy with effect from 1 August 2006. 

Discussions have been held with ABSA bank regarding the most effective way of ensuring that walk in clients who are requested to pay at the bank would be still be able to receive their practicing cards on the same day.

Walk in clients will be asked to pay at the bank and payments will be immediately verifiable on Council’s online cash focus system and practicing cards can be printed without delay. Practitioners are reminded that payments by personal cheques are risky as such cheques may not be honoured by the bank until after seven working days.  A business process will be put in place so practicing cards for those paying by cheques be withheld for seven days before being printed and dispatched. Those who send in cash by post for annual or registration fees will have their cash returned to them for non compliance with policy. In respect of all cheque payments, a similar business process will be developed to ensure practicing cards for those practitioners be withheld for seven working days before being printed and dispatched.  The HPCSA’s banking details are as follows:Account name -  HPCSABank -                        ABSABranch -               ARCADIABranch code -              33 49 45Account number -         405 00 33 481 annual feesAccount number -        061 00 00 169 other applicationsReference Number-  your registration number.

Payments can also be done by Credit Card. Authorisation to process a credit card entry must be sent by fax and duly signed by the practitioner concerned. The following must be supplied:1. Registration number2. Credit card number3. Expiry date of credit card4. On the back of the credit card, there is a three digit number, the

CVV number, which must also be included.5. Amount payable6. Reason why you would like to pay7. Telephone number : 012 33893868.Fax to: (012) 328 4882 Attention: Anne-Marie Roux

ETHICAL RULES

The new ethical rules of conduct for practitioners registered with the HPCSA were promulgated on 4 August 2006 (regulation no. R.717)

ESTABLISHMENT OF PRACTICES AND CLOSE CORPORATIONS

Practitioners who are registered with the HPCSA conduct their practices in the following manner:

Solus practicePartnershipIncorporated company (exempted in terms of section 54A of the Act)Association

A practice may not be conducted in any other form such as a close corporation or trust with so-called lay persons.

Close corporations could be utilised by registered practioners to render non-patient/client related services, e.g. renting of rooms, leasing of vehicles and office equipment, payment of staff salaries and maintenance of buildings.

Documents regarding the establishment of practices and close corporations are on Council’s website. The Policy on Undesirable Business Practices is also available on the website.

RETENTION OF CLIENT/PATIENT RECORDS

Client records have to be retained by practitioners for at least 5 years and they should plan in advance in order to facilitate the appropriate transfer and to protect the confidentiality of records and data in the event of their unavailability through factors such as death, incapacity or withdrawal from practice; furthermore, practitioners have to comply with the Board’s Ethical Code of Professional Conduct in that regard at all times.

Where there are statutory obligations which prescribe that client records had to be retained for a period longer than 5 years, practitioners had to comply with those obligations, eg. requirements by state hospitals, etc.

ISSUING OF SICK CERTIFICATES BY PSYCHOLOGISTS

It is permissible for psychologists to issue sick certificates for services rendered to a client/patient in respect of his/her psychological functioning and well-being, including admission to and discharge from hospitals. However, this does not apply to Research Psychologists, since it is not permissible for Research Psychologists to directly render clinical psychological services such as diagnosis and therapy.

PROPOSED NEW PRACTICE FRAMEWORK FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS

In order to make psychological services available to all South Africans, the Board identified the need to revise the current education and training requirements for the profession of psychology.

The Board revised the practice framework taking into consideration the feedback from stakeholders, national imperatives as set out in all relevant National Policy directives.

KEY COMPONENTS OF THE FRAMEWORK

Provide ease of entry to appropriate levels of education and training for all prospective learners in a manner which facilitates progression [definitions]

Access – S2 SAQA Act : to facilitate access to and mobility and progression within education, training and career paths

As part of the Strategic Priorities of the National Health System 2004-2009, the National Health Council has decided, inter alia, on Strengthening of Human Resources as a key strategic area of focus

NDOH Strategic Plan 2006/07 Program 4 : Production of mid-level health workers

NEXT STEPS

Education Committee develop education and training guidelines, competency outcomes and scopes of

practice for the different registration categories in the new practice framework.

Board adopt model and approve education and training guidelines, competency outcomes and scopes of

practice as proposed.

Consultation with educational institutions.

Approval of model by HPCSA and Minister of Health and consultation with all other relevant government departments, e.g. Dept of Education, Labour, etc.

The Board will consider the matter relating to the revised practice framework on 22 September 2006.

POLICY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS (F208) AND LIST OF TESTS CLASSIFIED AS BEING PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS (F207) AND CLASSIFICATION AND REVIEW CERTIFICATE

In terms of section 37 of the Heath Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) the exercising of control over prescribed questionnaires or tests or prescribed tests or prescribed techniques, apparatus or instruments for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, psychophysiological functioning or psychopathology and the development of questionnaires, tests, techniques, apparatus or instruments for the determination of intellectual abilities, aptitude, personality make-up, personality functioning, psychophysiological functioning or psychopathology, fall within the jurisdiction of the Professional Board for Psychology;

The Psychometrics Committee of the Board has been mandated by the Board to re-evaluate the tests on the Board's current List of Tests Classified as Being Psychological Tests, since some of the tests may be outdated and some has never been evaluated and classified by the Board;

A select group of stakeholders has been requested to comment on the intention of the Board to re-evaluate and possibly re-classify the tests on the current list. The Psychometrics Committee considered the matter and recommendations in this regard will be considered by the Board on 22 September 2006.

The Board has developed draft guidelines for Internet Assessments. Feedback was received from stakeholders and will be considered by the Board on 22 September 2006.

NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS, REGISTERED COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOMETRISTS

The examination is designed to assess the application of knowledge rather than the ability to regurgitate theories or material learned. it is for this reason then when a question asks for a discussion; candidates are expected to respond in paragraph format providing a discussion in respect of the question. Merely listing information does not respond to the question. Furthermore, candidates are expected to demonstrate competency to apply knowledge through the ability to discriminate between the most relevant and appropriate solution(s) from the general and or irrelevant..

The board is concerned about the fact that examination candidates have difficulty in integrating theory and practice and apply their knowledge to specific case studies in the examination.

The examination guidelines and sample examination paper and answers are available on the HPCSA website: www.hpcsa.co.za / professional boards / psychology /examinations.

It is important that candidates take note of the following requirements -

i. the closing dates for application to write the examination, since no late applications will be accepted;

ii. applications for the examination will not be processed without proof of payment of the examination fees.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

The Board currently does not accredit CPD programmes and/or providers and the monitoring of CPD compliance by practitioners has been temporarily suspended. However, practitioners should be alerted to the fact that continuing education is both an ethical and professional responsibility of practitioners and the temporary suspension of the monitoring of CPD compliance does not absolve them from this responsibility.

CPD will be implemented in 2007 and the Board is in the process of finalising the CPD guidelines for the psychology profession.

The generic CPD guidelines of the HPCSA are available on the website (www.hpcsa.co.za / CPD/ second paragraph.

INTERNSHIP SUPERVISION

The Board is concerned about the quality and adequacy of on-site internship supervision and specially pertaining to individualised internship programmes.

The collaborating Departments of Psychology at universities have a responsibility to oversee and monitor internship training and should ensure quality supervision. Universities have a responsibility to advise the Board regarding any problems relating to the supervision of internships.

Interns also have a responsibility to advise the collaborating university and the Board regarding supervision problems.

The Board intends to inspect the internship training sites in 2007.

Interns should take cognisance of the fact that the 12 month's internship is fulltime (i.e. at least 40 hours per week) and interns who are employed by the organisation where an internship is undertaken must be accommodated by the organisation as an intern. In the circumstances, no applications for extension of internships will be considered in cases where interns, due to work commitments, are not in a position to complete the internship activities within the 12 month's period.

The Board in July 2006 RESOLVED that the applications for extension of internships due to unsatisfactory performance be changed from the eighth month of the internship to the tenth month of the internship.

TIMEFRAME FOR REGISTRATION AS A PSYCHOLOGIST

An internship MUST commence within two years of completing the first year of a directed Master’s degree. In exceptional circumstances the Board may permit a longer lapse of time, provided the university concerned supports the application in writing, and the Board finds a fully motivated application acceptable.

A maximum period of one year after completion of an internship will be allowed for completion of the dissertation;

An extension of 4 months will be granted from date of expiry of the two year timeframe, subject to receipt of a letter from the university, confirming that the dissertation has been handed in for final examination.

Interns who-

i. are not in a position to register within 2 years and 4 months from date of registration as an intern have to complete a further

approved and uninterrupted internship of 3 month’s duration;

ii. exceeded the timeframe for registration by 3 to 4 years, have to complete a further approved and uninterrupted internship of 6 month’s duration;

iii. Exceeded the timeframe for registration with 5 years have to complete a further approved internship of 12 month’s duration.

All students who register for an accredited Masters programme in psychology for the first time in 2007 will be required to successfully complete the Masters degree (i.e. course and dissertation) prior to commencement with an internship.

Universities should take cognisance that it is not permissible for lecturers who are not registered practitioners to be involved in the supervision of psychology students and interns.

TRAINING OF PSYCHOMETRISTS

The Psychometrics Committee of the Board is concerned about the quality of supervision of psychometrists during the 6 month's practicum. Psychometrists had to get exposure to aptitude tests, intelligence tests, interest questionnaires and personality tests, excluding certain personality measures (e.g., TAT, CAT, Rorschach); specialist neuropsychological measures; and measures that were used for the diagnosis of psychopathology (e.g., MMPI-2).

Psychometrists are registered in the category "independent practice/private practice" and have to be competent in the administration of tests, interpretation of tests results, report writing and feedback on test results to the clients. However, with the B.Psych or equivalent programmes universities are now responsible for placement and oversight of the practicum and universities are urged to ensure that students receive quality supervision during the practicums.

The Board in September 2005 RESOLVED that psychometrists be required to do fulltime practicum of a 6 month duration, or alternatively a part time practicum of a 6 month duration to be completed within a period of 12 months.

PART-TIME PRACTICUM FOR REGISTERED COUNSELLORS

RESOLVED that registered counsellors be permitted to do part-time practicums, provided that the 6 month’s practicum was completed within a period of 12 months.

REGISTRATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PSYCHOLOGISTS

In order for a person to commence with community service, the person has to register with the HPCSA as a psychologist in the category "Public Service/Community Service" Currently community service has been implemented for clinical psychologists only.

Students must register as psychologists in the category "Public Service/Community Service" prior to commencement with the 12 months community service.

Community service falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health. The Board requests that community service also be implemented for the other registration categories; however, it will appear that there are no funds and posts available at this stage.

ROLE OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN HEALTH SERVICES

The Board is of the view that language and culture have a serious impact on the rendering of psychological services and the recipients of such services and RESOLVED that the evaluation/re-evaluation of education programmes should measure how academic programmes in psychology addressed the issues pertaining to language and culture.

ETHICAL TARIFF GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOLOGY

The Ethical Tariff Guidelines for Psychology are available on the HPCSA website:

www.hpcsa.co.za/tariffs/psychology. The Tariff Committee will determine the ethical tariff guidelines for 2007 and submit it to Council in November 2006 for approval.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?